a, an and plurals · a, an y plurales
One or many?
- For one thing, use a / an: a book, an apple.
- For many, use the plural: books, apples.
- Small words, but English uses them all the time.
One apple is a snack. Ten apples are a plan.
¿Uno o varios?
- Para uno usa a / an: a book, an apple.
- Para varios, usa el plural: books, apples.
- Son palabras pequeñas, pero inglés las usa todo el tiempo.
One apple is a snack. Ten apples are a plan.
a and an
- a before a consonant sound: a car, a dog.
- an before a vowel sound: an egg, an hour (h is silent).
- Use them only with singular countable nouns.
a y an
- a antes de sonido consonántico: a car, a dog.
- an antes de sonido vocálico: an egg, an hour (la h es muda).
- Úsalos solo con sustantivos contables singulares.
a or an? · ¿a o an?
Use a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound. · Usa a antes de un sonido consonántico, an antes de un sonido vocálico.
Choose: I eat ___ apple. · Elige: I eat ___ apple.
“apple” begins with a vowel sound → an apple. · “apple” comienza con un sonido vocálico → an apple.
Plurals: -s, -es, -ies
- Most nouns: add -s → book → books.
- After -s, -sh, -ch, -x: add -es → bus → buses.
- Consonant + y: change y to i, add -es → baby → babies.
Plurales: -s, -es, -ies
- La mayoría de los sustantivos: añade -s → book → books.
- Después de -s, -sh, -ch, -x: añade -es → bus → buses.
- Consonante + y: cambia la y por i, añade -es → baby → babies.
Write the plural of “city”. · Escribe el plural de “city”.
Consonant + y → change y to i, add -es: city → cities. · Consonante + y → cambia la y por i, añade -es: city → cities.
Translate into English: 我有两只猫。 · Traduce al inglés: 我有两只猫。
Two + plural noun: “I have two cats.” (not “two cat”) · Two + sustantivo plural: “I have two cats.” (no “two cat”)
Irregular plurals (learn these!)
- man → men, woman → women, child → children.
- foot → feet, tooth → teeth, person → people.
- No -s here — you must remember them.
Plurales irregulares (¡apréndete estos!)
- man → men, woman → women, child → children.
- foot → feet, tooth → teeth, person → people.
- Aquí no va -s — hay que recordarlos.
What is the plural of “child”? · ¿Cuál es el plural de “child”?
“child” is irregular: child → children. · “child” es irregular: child → children.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I have dog. → ✓ I have a dog. — a singular noun needs a / an.
- ❌ two book → ✓ two books — add -s after numbers.
- ❌ a hour → ✓ an hour — the h is silent. Listen to the sound, not the letter.
Errores comunes
- ❌ I have dog. → ✓ I have a dog. — Un sustantivo singular necesita a / an.
- ❌ two book → ✓ two books — añade -s después de números.
- ❌ a hour → ✓ an hour — la h es muda. Escucha el sonido, no la letra.
Match the singular to its plural. · Une el singular con su plural.
man → men and child → children are irregular; box → boxes (-es); city → cities (y → ies). · man → men y child → children son irregulares; box → boxes (-es); city → cities (y → ies).
Is this correct? “She is a engineer.” · ¿Es esto correcto? “She is a engineer.”
engineer starts with a vowel sound → an engineer. · engineer empieza con un sonido vocálico → an engineer.
- a / an = one (an before a vowel sound).
- Plural = usually + -s (or -es / -ies).
- Some are irregular: children, people, men, women.
- a / an = uno (an antes de sonido vocálico).
- Plural = generalmente + -s (o -es / -ies).
- Algunos son irregulares: children, people, men, women.
What is in your bag? Write one sentence with a plural noun (for example: two books, three pens). · ¿Qué hay en tu bolsa? Escribe una oración con un sustantivo plural (por ejemplo: two books, three pens).
Example: “I have three pens and two books.” · Ejemplo: “I have three pens and two books.”